A usefulk reminder that US support for Israel still appears to be a bipartisan ("van beide grote partijen") issue in the US, the House of Representatives voted 407-9 on a resolution endorsing Bush's assurances to Sharon:
The Unites States House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 407-9 in favor of a resolution endorsing US President George W. Bush's April declarations that Israel would not have to fully withdraw from the West Bank as part of a final peace deal, and that Palestinian refugees would not be resettled in Israel.Bush made the comments after Sharon presented him with his plan for unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank.
House Concurrent Resolution 460, "Regarding the security of Israel and the principles of peace in the Middle East," was introduced by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.
The resolution "strongly endorses" the principles articulated by Bush in a letter to Sharon on April 14, "which will strengthen the security and well-being of the State of Israel" and "supports the continuing efforts with others in the international community to build the capacity and will of Palestinian institutions to fight terrorism."
While it refers to Sharon's proposed "initiative," settlement dismantlement - the core element of the plan -- is neither endorsed nor mentioned explicitly in the resolution.
Links: full text of resolution, vote roll call. Keep in mind, however, that a Concurrent Resolution does not have the character of a law, although the Executive would do well not to ignore it.
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